Ferrari were back in front with Charles Leclerc quickest in FP3 of F1 Russian GP from Sebastian Vettel and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
The Ferrari power was strong as Leclerc topped the FP3 session in F1 Russian GP at Sochi Autodrom with a 1m32.733s lap as a late lap from Vettel saw him finish second with a 1m33.049s.
Mercedes’ Hamilton (1m33.129s) was third from Valtteri Bottas (1m33.354s) with Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen (1m34.227s, medium) ending up fifth as he couldn’t improve his time due to a moment on the sausage kerb.
He subsequently had a spin as he gently touched the tyre barrier in the same place as Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo did in FP1. Haas’ Romain Grosjean (1m34.308s) was sixth as the Frenchman ran over the sausage kerb himself.
A late improvement from Red Bull’s Alexander Albon (1m34.371s) saw him in seventh with the Thai racer having another scrappy session. He bumped Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg (1m34.421s) to eighth as a result.
The Top 10 was rounded out by McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m34.527s) and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (1m34.546s) with Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly (1m34.564s) missing out by only just.
Renault’s Ricciardo (1m34.586s) continued to be behind teammate in 12th with McLaren’s Carlos Sainz (1m34.607s) also looked off in 13th from Alfa Romeo Racing’s Antonio Giovinazzi (1m34.766s).
The two Racing Point drivers Sergio Perez (1m34.860s) and Lance Stroll (1m34.898s) were 15th and 16th with the Mexican twice having a huge lock-up. The other Alfa Romeo of Kimi Raikkonen (1m35.714s) was only 17th.
Williams’ George Russell (1m36.011s) was 18th with Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat (1m36.081s) 19th from Williams’ Robert Kubica (1m36.942s) after the Russian again had engine issues. He is to miss qualifying with an engine change.
